I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Our culture seems to encourage skepticism or cynicism or even hostility toward leaders. Some of this might be understandable. I’m not sure things were a lot better when Paul wrote the above instructions. Remember that Nero is the Roman Emperor at this time, the same Nero that later executes Paul.
It might be that the more deficient we think our leaders are, the more we should pray for them. Paul tells us that petitions and intercession and even thanksgiving should be made for kings and all those in authority. He says our goal should be to have the ability to live lives of godliness and holiness - and our leaders can serve that goal or work against it. If we aren’t living these lives, we can’t hold our leaders, or anyone else, responsible. But our leaders can preside over a better environment for that - and we should pray for them in this regard.
It could be a political leader or a professional one, or a religious one. All those in authority need prayer, because they all are responsible to God for their leadership.
Action: Pray for a political leader without thinking of a particular issue - instead, pray for God to work in them as we seek to live out our calling. Pray for the leaders of our church as they are responsible for shepherding God’s mission.